Posts Tagged ‘Philippines’

The emergency communications provided by hams continues as the devastating Typhoon Hagupit (locally called Ruby) moves slowly across the Philippines.

Thelma Pascua DU1IVT, Philippines Amateur Radio Society (PARA) Chief Operating Officer reports that both 7.095 MHz and 144.740 MHz is in use by the Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) network.

“As Typhoon Hagupit enters its third day ham operators continue to provideessential traffic as the storm progresses through Philippine territory,” she said.

PARA, the IARU member society, has sent requests to the neighbouring ORARI in Indonesia, and JARL in Japan, asking for help to publicise the need for all operators to steer clear of the 40 metre frequency used for emergency traffic.

Thelma DU1IVT said, “A HERO volunteer and RADNET-5 President Ronald Madera DW5NLH from Tacloban advised that the Oras West Elementary School used as evacuation centre in Eastern Samar has collapsed, resulting in injuries to evacuees. A rescue team was despatched and this event was to be covered by a news team.”

At the height of the typhoon there were no HERO volunteers in the provincial capital of Borongan. That shortage resulted in a HERO request via Captain Rick Catungal DV6RCC, an Army Captain managing disaster communications in Capiz, and through the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Metro Manilla.

Gil Lappay 4F2KWT helped in providing contacts with a relay of messages were needed until the request was received.

Confidence that the HERO network could adequately handle all emergency traffic was shown by around 150 stations that checked in.

As the typhoon was on the move, hams reported the weather and any other developments into the emergency net.

The HERO network running basically from 7am and 7pm has 2pm roll calls to know each station’s reception capabilities at differing propagation.

“We are confident that emergency traffic will be adequately serviced,” she said.

At the request of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), radio amateurs set up at the NTC Central Office that identifies as DX1NTC.

The task of manning the station is given to PARA affiliate club ACER (DX1ER). The initial operators include Raul DU1VFS, Mike, DW1VJD and a good CW operator, Conrad, DU1TDG. Helping to keep that team in action with provisions and logistics are Nards DU1LC, Joe, DU1IL and other ACER members.

The NTC regional offices have also set up stations. From NTC Region 3 Alex DU3AL, Bong DU3BS, Ka Diego DU3DYG; Region 6 assisted by the Panay Amateur Radio Club and PARA District 6 Manager Ned DU6NE with the constant monitoring of Bobby DU6BG.

Other stations were reporting local conditions. Nanding DW5OCF on Ormoc City, Southern Leyte; Jay DV7JAY, Sidney DW7EEE and DW7EQN on Cebu; Art DV7DRG at Dumaguete City with the rest of NORAD 7 members; embedded members in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Operations Centre (OpCen), Edmund DV7DTE, Ivan DV7DRP reporting wind conditions in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental – all the way to the Bicol area with DX4CN embedded in the Daet Camarines Norte National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reporting efforts with Lito DU4DF in Naga City.

Ditoy, DW1OZR is reporting from Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, on the evacuation efforts in a precautionary measure, prior to the typhoon making landfall in Mindoro.

The typhoon is expected to make a six (6) landfalls before it eventually exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

ACCESS-5 members 4Nelson, DW5MGB and Edgar DV5EST will be going to Borongan Eastern Samar to set up HF communications on 7.095 MHz and VHF. Mario 4F5MM and Jerick 4F5JMS will be going to Catarman, Northern Samar as part of the assessment team from the Office of Civil Defence.

Nathan DU5AOK was able to talk to Mayor Mabalcon of Paranas, Samar earlier in the day and the Mayor said “the presence of many volunteers is very encouraging”.

Lester DV5PO is reporting about Borongan, Eastern Samar. His report will be vital to those awaiting his assessment of the aftermath in his area.

Other hams are embedded in the different disaster and risk reduction operations centres in the different local government units.

Iver DV6ILA and Arnel DV6WAV are manning the Roxas City operations centre. ACCESS-5 is attached with the Office of Civil Defence, Leyte Province. Vie DU5VIE of RADNET-5 at the Tacloban City CDRRMC operations center. Ton, DW1QGG is embedded as operator with the Marinduque authorities. Dulce, DU4UW is attached to disaster communications at the Sorsogon on the Bicol Peninsula at southern tip of Luzon.

Spare a thought for those who spent a nervous, very wet and windy Christmas period as Tropical Storm Quinta went through the south of the Philippines, in areas trying to recover from Tyhoon Bopha earlier in the month.

Activated during the storm was the Philippines Amateur Radio Association emergency net on 7.095 MHz and VHF, to handle emergency and welfare traffic.

A request to keep the HF frequency clear was issued by PARA’s Vice Chief Operating Officer, Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ. The emergency had passed and he expressed many thanks on behalf of PARA for use of the frequency.

Among those involved in the emergency were members of the PARA-affiliated club, The District 5 Radio Amateur Network DX5RAN.

They were kept busy coordinating much needed pre-emptive evacuations in Tacloban City and elsewhere alongside the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Other radio amateurs were also involved in the overall emergency.

Landslides occurred in the Visayas, Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar areas. There were more than 5,800 ferry passengers stranded with fishermen told not to venture out.

The archipelago has numerous severe weather events each year. Typhoon Bopha which made landfall over Mindanao on December the 2nd ripped through the southern provinces killing 1,067 people, leaving hundreds missing and many more homeless.

The Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) Inc. has activated its emergency net to deal with whatever contingencies that may arise due to typhoon Quinta making landfall by tomorrow Dec 26. As of the moment the typhoon is situated some 60 kilometers east of Guiuian Eastern Samar. It packs a 65 to 90 kph gustiness near the center.

Please advise all operators to stand clear from the calling frequency of 7.095 MHz plus minus QRM. We will be using the frequency until we stand down from our emergency net and return to normal operations.

First off the information thread, Nathan Eamiguel, DU5AOK, has relayed that the City of Tacloban has ordered a forced preemptive evacuation of Barangay Palanog and other low-lying areas in Tacloban City as of 5:20 PM local time.

The radio amateur community was prepared when a super typhoon unleashed its
fury on the Philippines, uprooting trees, snapping power lines, sparking
landslides, cancelling flights and ferries sending 40,000 people to shelters.
Claiming more than 200 human lives, it was the strongest of 16 typhoons in
the country this year, as Pablo (internationally named Bopha) had heavy rain
and wind gusts up to 210km/h.
The Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) had emergency communications
on 40 metres 7095 MHz and VHF as the typhoon made landfall on Tuesday at
North Davao in Mindanao. It left a large footprint of damage before exiting
the country.
PARA is disappointed that its emergency use of 7095 MHz was not honoured
by other radio amateurs, who disturbed its operation by testing equipment
on air, tuning up, sending digital signals and sometimes even trying to make
contact as if it was a DX activity.
A standard text will clearly identify emergency nets in future, as a worldwide
reminder is issued not to QRM emergencies or training exercises.
With the typhoon now leaving the area of country's area of responsibility,
the PARA HERO activity is now closed.'
National Traffic System Co-chairman, Roberto C. Vicencio DU1VHY said he thanked
everyone who participated in the endeavour, and they did very well, exceeding
all expectations.
(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee)

Hams provide emergency communications
Typhoon Bopha (local name Pablo) has hit The Philippines uprooting trees,
downing power lines, sparking landslides and making 40,000 people head for shelters.
It was the strongest of about 20 typhoons to affect the country this year with
its heavy rain and wind gusting up to 210km/h as it came ashore at Mindanao.
The Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) had its ham emergency
radio operations (HERO) working when the typhoon struck the southern Philippines.
PARA is using all available means of communication like HF radio (7.095 MHz) VHF radio
(144.740 MHz), the internet and social media (Facebook, email, echolink) to monitor the
situation and give updates to all concerned.
Ham emergency radio operators have been assisting in the communication needs of
these cities (as reported by DW5JMJ, DU5AOK and DU8BGA).
RADNET 5, a local club of amateur radio operators in Tacloban City, is very active in helping
provide the city with vital communications link.
It is in constant coordination with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council
(CDRRMC). So far, 5,700 families have been evacuated from Saint Bernard.
RADNET 5 is also assisting the Red Cross in Tacloban and Saint Bernard. The City
Government of Tacloban City has used the Tacloban Convention Centre as one of its
evacuation centres.
The casualties have been minimal, due to preparations, the cooperation of evacuees and the
mammoth response and recovery. efforts.
(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chair of the IARU Region 3, Disaster Communications Committee, with
PARA Chief Operating Officer Eddie Valdez DU1EV).